Congratulations! You’ve received an award with your offer of admission. In this tab, we’ll help you understand the details of your award.
Award Terms and Regulations
All the terms and regulations for entrance awards can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Final vs Conditional offers
The value of a conditional entrance award may be adjusted/cancelled based on your final admission average.
The value of a final entrance award is guaranteed once you register as a full-time student in the fall term. You will also need to be enrolled as a full-time student for winter term.
Timeline
The Admissions Office typically reviews offer letters between September and October.
What happens if my GPA changes?
The value of some awards may be adjusted based on your final admission average. All the terms and regulations for entrance awards can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Faculty awards
Did you receive an entrance award from your Faculty? Please visit your Faculty’s award website for more information.
Faculty international award offers
International students who have received an award, of which some are renewable, are eligible based on the following criteria:
- Must be paying international tuition fees.
- Must be enrolled in courses full-time (fall and winter).
- Must clear conditions and finalize offer of admission.
You will not be eligible for this award if your tuition changes to domestic fees.
International awards are paid in two parts — 50 per cent after the Fall drop and add period and 50 per cent after the Winter drop and add period.
MELD students are eligible for the faculty-specific awards listed below upon successful completion of MELD, full-time enrolment in their Level 1 program in the 2027/28 academic year and maintaining visa fee status.
What is considered full time?
A full-time student, for academic purposes, is an undergraduate student who is registered in at least 9 units in a term, including extra courses. Full-time status for students in the Faculty of Science and Engineering Co-op programs is granted to those students registered in at least 9 units in a term.
Review the terms of awards below:
McMaster University Award of Excellence is a prestigious award and is presented to a student who exemplifies the highest standards of academic and personal achievement. The recipient will:
- Have a strong history of academic excellence
- Demonstrate a commitment to community excellence
- Show great potential as a student scholar at McMaster University
- Exemplify McMaster University’s values of excellence, engagement, and personal growth.
Award value: Up to $200,000* over four years.
Eligible faculties: Business, Engineering, Humanities, Science and Social Sciences
Renewable each year in Level 2-4 for a total of four years. Students are required to be enrolled in the faculty to which they were originally admitted, maintain full-time enrolment status and continue to pay international student tuition fees
Applicants must apply through AwardSpring.
Application opens: November 24th, 2025
Application deadline: February 19, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
*Award amounts are determined by the Faculty and are based on the student’s enrolled course load as required by their program. The final value will be confirmed following enrolment.
DeGroote International Scholars Award was established by the Faculty of Business in 2024 to recognize incoming full-time international students with averages of 89.99 per cent or below. $15,000 in the first year. The scholarship is renewable at $5,000 for up to 3 years provided the recipient remains enrolled in the DeGroote School of Business and is in good standing. This award is automatic and do not require an application.
DeGroote International Distinction Award was established by the Faculty of Business in 2024 to recognize incoming full-time international students with averages of 90 to 94.99 per cent. $20,000 in the first year. The scholarship is renewable at $10,000 for up to 3 years provided the recipient remains enrolled in the DeGroote School of Business and is in good standing. This award is automatic and do not require an application.
The Dean’s Global Excellence Award was established by the Faculty of Business in 2024 to recognize incoming full-time international students with averages of 95 per cent or higher. $25,000 in the first year. The scholarship is renewable at $20,000 for up to 3 years provided the recipient remains enrolled in the DeGroote School of Business and is in good standing. This award is automatic and do not require an application.
The Global Dean’s Excellence Award is a renewable award for international students enrolled full-time (Fall term) who are paying international tuition fees. Recipients are awarded $7,500 over 4 years in the Bachelor of Technology; Computer Science; Engineering; Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences programs. Deadline to apply is February 19, 2026. Minimum eligibility is international undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Engineering. This award is renewable for students in good academic standing.
The Engineering International Entrance Award is a one-time, $10,000 award for international students enrolled full-time (Fall term) who are paying international tuition fees. Minimum eligibility is international undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Engineering.
The iBioMed International Entrance Award is a one-time, $10,000 award for international students enrolled full-time (Fall term) who are paying international tuition fees in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (iBioMed) program. Minimum eligibility is international undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Engineering.
Computer Science International Entrance Award is a one-time, $10,000 award for international students enrolled full-time (Fall term) who are paying international tuition fees in the Computer Science 1 or Computer Science 1 CO-OP program. Minimum eligibility is international undergraduate students entering Level 1 in the Faculty of Engineering.
Don’t see your scholarship listed here? More engineering scholarships are a click away!
Humanities Scholars Award will be automatically given to international students entering Level 1 who have an academic average of 85 per cent and above. Students in Level 1 will receive $10,000. The award can then be renewed in Level 2-4 at $5,000/year provided the recipient remains enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities Honours program and is in good standing.
Faculty of Humanities Global Gateway Award is a $2,500 one-time award for full-time international students with an incoming average below 85 per cent are eligible.
Science Global Scholars Award is a renewable award. Recipients are awarded $10,000 in Level 1 and $7,500 in Levels 2-4. The award can then be renewed in Level 2-4 at $7,500/year provided the recipient remains enrolled in the Faculty of Science program and is in good standing.You must meet the terms outlined in the terms and conditions (MAPSci – The McMaster Academic Planner).
Social Sciences Scholars Award will be automatically given to international students entering Level 1 who have an academic average of 85 per cent and above. Students in Level 1 will receive $10,000. The award can then be renewed in Level 2-4 at $5,000/year provided the recipient remains enrolled in the Faculty of Social Sciences Honours program and is in good standing.
Faculty of Social Sciences Global Gateway Award is $2,500 one-time award for full-time international students with an incoming average below 85 per cent are eligible. It’s our way of helping you start strong and focus on what matters most: your education.
MELD Academic Excellence Entrance Scholarship is a one-time award valued at $5,000 for students entering the MELD program with a Level 1 conditional offer and a university final admission average of ≧93 per cent.
MELD Scholarly Achievement Entrance Scholarship is a one-time award valued at $3,500 for students entering the MELD program with a Level 1 conditional offer and a university final admission average between 90 and 92.99 per cent.